MHA: Sand Sand Fruit

At that moment, Takeshi Tsuda slowly stood up from the ground.

Taking advantage of the break, he quickly retrieved his pants from nearby and put them back on. One side of his face was swollen, a sharp reminder of Akira's punch, and his expression was filled with confusion.

"I clearly activated my Quirk… so why did his attack connect?" Takeshi muttered under his breath, disbelief etched across his features.

This had never happened before. Since childhood, his Quirk had always been reliable—invincible even. Yet today, someone not only bypassed it but landed a devastating blow.

His thoughts spiraled, but his eyes remained fixed on Akira, who stood calmly across the field. A chill ran through Takeshi's spine as he muttered, **"What is this kid's background…?"**

Akira, however, didn't wait for him to recover. Slowly raising his right hand, dozens of sharp sand spikes materialized in midair, hovering ominously.

With a swift motion, Akira flicked his hand, and the spikes hurtled toward Takeshi.

Ordinarily, Takeshi would have activated his Quirk and stood still, letting the attacks phase harmlessly through him. However, after being punched earlier, he didn't dare to take the risk. One mistake could cost him dearly.

Jumping swiftly to the side, Takeshi dodged the barrage of sand spikes.

**"Bang! Bang! Bang!"**

The sand spikes pierced the ground, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Before Takeshi could recover, Akira waved his hand again. The ground beneath Takeshi's feet fractured, cracks spiderwebbing outward. The solid earth transformed into flowing grains of sand, surging up in an attempt to ensnare him.

Reacting quickly, Takeshi activated his Quirk, allowing himself to phase through the sand trap. He sank into the ground and reappeared behind Akira, planning to strike.

However, the moment he emerged, Takeshi froze. His expression turned grim as he realized Akira was no longer on the ground but hovering midair.

**"He can fly?!"** Takeshi muttered in disbelief.

Before he could react, countless sand arrows formed around Akira, each one aimed at him with deadly precision.

Takeshi immediately phased into the ground again, narrowly evading the barrage.

From the sidelines, Tian Huan watched with wide eyes. "Takeshi is completely suppressed," he muttered, unable to hide his astonishment.

Uzumaki Rasenaki nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Akira's abilities are insane. He can even fly with his Quirk. That kind of versatility is unreal."

"It's incredible," Tian Huan continued, his tone grave. "Two Quirks that shouldn't naturally conflict have been forced into direct opposition. And Akira's completely outclassing him."

Rasenaki smiled faintly. "I've got so many questions for him after this match."

On the sidelines, All Might remained silent, observing the match with a complicated expression. The sheer scope of Akira's abilities left even him at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, across the training grounds, Midoriya, Todoroki, and their classmates were stunned.

"I thought Akira was strong, but this… this is on another level," Todoroki muttered. "Even Takeshi Tsuda, one of the top-ranked heroes, can't match him."

Tokoyami nodded in agreement. "It's hard to believe someone in our year can completely overpower someone of Takeshi's caliber."

A loud voice suddenly echoed across the training ground, breaking everyone's thoughts.

**"You win."**

The declaration stunned the audience. Takeshi Tsuda had admitted defeat.

"He gave up?" Tian Huan asked, incredulous.

Rasenaki frowned. "Takeshi isn't the type to surrender. For him to admit defeat…"

Takeshi, now back on the ground, smiled wryly at Akira. "If I'm being honest, I haven't been holding back, but even at my best, I can't beat you. Your Quirks are too versatile, and your combat instincts are sharper than mine."

Akira descended to the ground, his sand slowly receding. "I haven't gone all out either, but I respect you for fighting seriously."

Takeshi chuckled, adjusting his now-dirtied uniform. "You're a monster, Kitagawa Akira. But I mean that as a compliment."

Akira smiled faintly. "Then I'll take it as one."